Weeks with rain every day

Short answer: When it rains every day, clothes never get a chance to dry completely. The problem is not the single shower, but the damp building up in your wardrobe, so give drying clothes air and keep a few extra sets ready.

The damp builds up

A single shower is rarely a problem. Clothes get wet, but they dry again overnight. When it rains every day for a week or two, it is different. The damp never fully leaves and collects in your clothes, your shoes and the air at home. That is what makes wet weeks so tiresome.

Clothes do not get time to dry

When clothes hang to dry in damp air, it takes two days instead of one night. Thick pieces take the longest, and a sweatshirt can still feel cold and damp the next morning. Hang it up soon after washing. See bamboo sweatshirts for women.

Give your clothes air

Clothes dry faster when there is air around them. Do not hang them too close together on the rack, and turn them once one side is dry. A room with a little warmth and an open door dries better than a closed one. Avoid folding damp clothes into the wardrobe.

You need more sets

In a wet week you run out faster, because nothing gets dry. What you washed yesterday is still hanging when you need it. So plan on having a few more sets in use than usual. Thin tops dry faster than thick pieces. See bamboo tops for women.

Socks are the bottleneck

Wet shoes make your socks wet every day, and you need an extra pair. Socks are the first thing to run out in a rainy week, because you often have to change halfway through the day. Keep a spare pair in your bag. See socks for women.

Shoes need to dry too

Shoes that get wet every day rarely dry fully by the next morning. Take out the insoles and place the shoes somewhere airy, but not directly on a hot radiator. With two pairs you can alternate, so each pair gets a full day to dry.

Wash with some thought

In a wet spell it is tempting to wash more, but that only means more laundry to dry. Wash full loads and choose a high spin if the fabric allows it, so there is less water left in the clothes when they come out.

Your home gets damp too

When laundry dries indoors, the moisture goes into the air in your home. Air out a few times a day, even when it rains, so the damp air can escape. It helps both your clothes and the room, and makes the next load easier to dry.

Frequently asked questions

What do you do in a week of rain every day

Make sure there is air around the clothes that are drying, and plan on using a few more sets than usual so you do not run out midweek.

Why do clothes dry so slowly

Because the air is already damp. Without dry air, the moisture in the fabric has nowhere to go, so drying can take up to twice as long.

What should you have the most of

Socks. They get wet every day in wet weather and are the first thing to run out, so a spare pair in your bag is a good idea.